Definitive Must Haves

spacecoyote

Thought it might be an idea to start a thread to compile a list of the all time classic albums that every self-respecting Hip-Hop head should have.

This is not a "recommend" list, this is a list of all time classics that helped to shape & form the development of hip-hop music. So not just albums you have in your collection that you love.

I'll start it off with a couple, more to be added when i've a bit more time:

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu
Nas - Illmatic
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap
Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full
The Roots - Illadelph Halflife
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Public Enemy - It takes a Nation of Millions....

that kind of thing....

me and the biz

spacecoyote wrote:

Thought it might be an idea to start a thread to compile a list of the all time classic albums that every self-respecting Hip-Hop head should have.

This is not a "recommend" list, this is a list of all time classics that helped to shape & form the development of hip-hop music. So not just albums you have in your collection that you love.

I'll start it off with a couple, more to be added when i've a bit more time:

Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu
Nas - Illmatic
Boogie Down Productions - Criminal Minded
KRS-One - Return of the Boom Bap
Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full
The Roots - Illadelph Halflife
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Public Enemy - It takes a Nation of Millions....

that kind of thing....

Ultramagnetic MC's - Critical Beatdown
Jungle Brothers - Straight outta the Jungle
Beastie Boys - Pauls Boutique
De La Soul - Is dead
EPMD - Business as usual
Kool G Rap - Road to the riches
A Tribe Called Quest - People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Ice Cube - Death Certificate
GangStarr - Hard to earn
NWA - Straight outta Compton
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca and the Soul Brother
Big Daddy Kane - Long Live the Kane

Evzer

Gza-LIquid swords
Mobb deep- The infamous & Hell on earth
Reakwon-only built 4 cuban linx
Ice cube- Death Cerificate
Gang starr- Moment of truth
Outkast- Aquemini
Cunninlynguists-Piece of strange
Perceptionists- Black DIalogue
Masta Ace - A long hot summer
Freddie Foxxx- Industry shakedown
Cypress Hill- Black sunday
Common- Resurrection

kanibus

Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
Supreme Clientele - Ghostface Killah
Rip The Jacker - Canibus

Beefeater

In relation to some of Evzers post, maybe you have fallen into the personal favourites category. APOS is brilliant, but hasnt shaped the hip hop landscape, even if it Cunninlynguists do remain to put respect on the dirty south. Same for Black Dialogue-maybe in years to come. Good calls though. Also kanibus's post. Actually got Rip the Jacker recently and cant stop listenin to it, and believe me i find it tough to listen repeatedly to battle rap albums. Canibus has alot more going on here in fairness.

Trying to stick with Space Coyotes post i would say:
J Live- The Best Part (legendary due to its near unavailability)
Eminem- Slim Shady lp (possibly the main reason for the big rise in mainstream hip hop around the time)
Mr Lif-I Phantom,
Deltron 3030 (for their concept values)
Dead Prez- Lets Get Free
Kanye West-College Droput (not by any means classic but important for the mainstream)
Immortal Technique- Rev Vol.2
Kweli & Mos Def- Blackstar
Redman- Whut?? (as he says himself "Listen, must we forget, I originated all that wild ****, that rrraahh rrraaoowww ****That
jump up and ready to **** **** up now ****"